IN LOVING MEMORY, A MEMORIAL TO SHREW AND MARLYN
by Mac Emwalu
A college semester should begin with excitement and energy. New people, new classes, getting that much closer to graduation. Maybe there will be some field trips, new opportunities, perhaps some new courses offered. Also, a time to be with old friends, to feel renewed. But Spring semester didn't begin that way in January, 2002. It began with the greatest sadness that could befall a semester. Instead of being a joyous occasion, the semester began with the death of two dormitory students.
The Spring semester was clouded with tragedy and unforgettable sorrow. It was depressing to see students' futures being thrown to waste like worthless pieces of trash. Students came from different places beyond the horizon seeking new things to experience. They searched for changes to include in their valuable lives, not knowing whether they were good ideas or not. Most students would be successful but some would not. However, no person can ever predict his or her own future.
During the Christmas vacation of 2001, Marlyn, a girl's dorm resident, was sick in bed from an unknown stomach ailment. Rather than enjoying a Christmas, she suffered in pain. She was so seriously ill that the dorm manager had to refer her to being admitted to the Pohnpei State Hospital. The doctors predicted that she was not going to make it. By the end of the year, she had gotten worse. During the first few days of the year 2002, the Pohnpei State Hospital contacted her family. Marlyn was then taken to her homeland Kosrae. Not more than 24 hours after her arrival Marlyn, died.
The News about Marlyn rapidly spread within the small campus of COM. Many students were confused. But many were filled with sadness and sorrow. The Dorms were very quiet. Residents were trying to heal each others' wounded hearts and still could not help change the fact that one friend was missed. Some students used alcohol as a way to escape their sorrow but for others it was just a Friday night thing. A week later, after Marlyn's dead, another Korean (boy) student, Shrew Sigrah died. Shrew was stabbed by another student who was drunk, while at the JRS, a store s the street from across the road from the college buildings. He was stabbed straight into the heart with no hope of surviving. They rushed him up to the hospital but he died along the way. Doctors could not do anything. It was too late. The body of Shrew was taken to Kosrae. Most of the students, especially the Kosraens, paid their last respects for Shrew in the Kosraen church. Another funeral ceremony was held in the COM gymnasium and the staff and students came to pay their respect. There were many speeches from some of the staff and the elders from Chuuk and the Kosraen community. The Kosraen students sang several touching and traditional songs.
The incident drove many students to different stages. Most people were mad, some were afraid and confused . The death of Shrew made a big change in the COM community. I t changed almost everyone in the COM community. Some rules were changed and some were added, while other rules were reinforced.
by Mac Emwalu
MEMORIAL SPEECH
by Reverend Wilson Kalio
Dear
God of Eternity, life is so precious to each of us that all that is within us
says not to death. We see death as the dark, mysterious enemy that destroys the
good that You have created. Help us to see death as You see it: not the end but
the beginning, not a wall but a doorway, not a dark road but a path that leads
to eternal light and life. We will miss our loved ones, but we thank You, Lord,
for the memory. may our minds and hearts be filled with the wonderful
recollections of the past. help our sadness to wear a smile as the passing of
time wipes the tears away.
In
these moments of sacred memory, we would give Thee honor for the life of our
friends who have departed this life. make us content to leave them to thy care,
believing that Thy love for them is far greater than our own. May light eternal
shine upon them. Grant unto them mercy and let Your perpetual light shine upon
their souls that they may rest in eternal peace.
And,
for this institution , the families and
friends, we pray that you will act from beneath, and hold them up. Act from
within and still their trembling spirits. Act from beyond, and affirm, their
hope-and ours. Cause us to hear again the direct speaking of our lord as he
said: "Come until me, all ye that …are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest".